East Lansing investigation doesn’t support sexual harassement allegations against City Manager Robert Belleman
East Lansing released on Friday the results of a law firm investigation into City Manager Robert Belleman’s behavior following public accusations by an employee, who said Belleman had engaged in …
Miller Canfield summary of sexual harassment allegations
“Dziedzic raised a few specific comments where she felt Belleman’s statements may have been intended as a sexual innuendo or were otherwise sexual in nature. Specifically, Dziedzic stated Belleman: (1) asked why she was with a male coworker in a meeting room alone “for so long,”; (2) asked “what did you do, never mind, I do not want to know,” when inquiring about a lunch with Dziedzic’s husband; (3) called her “easy” or “too easy” on multiple occasions, including in a manner that meant she was too easy to tease and including during one discussion where she referenced her knees; and (4) teased her with nicknames such as Pokey or stated she took too long to get ready. Dziedzic said she would explain the comments or conduct as “weird” or a strange way of phrasing something.”
But law firm report flags concerns about management style
East Lansing released on Friday the results of a law firm investigation into City Manager Robert Belleman’s behavior following public accusations by an employee, who said Belleman had engaged in sexually harassing and bullying behavior.
The law firm’s report does not find any evidence to support sexual harassement allegations against Belleman, based on interviews with a half dozen employees and a lack of evidence aside from the allegations.
But the report does point to broader concerns about leadership climate and perceptions of favoritism, and investigators urged leadership training for Belleman.
East Lansing Grant Coordinator Erica Dziedzic spoke during a May 19 City Council meeting and said, “In 2025, Robert sexually harassed me and was verbally abusive toward me.”
City Pulse has reached out to Dziedzic through email.
She had previously made the allegations internally to the city, which commissioned an investigation from the law firm Miller Canfield last fall.
Following the public allegations this week, City Council members scheduled a special meeting on May 21 to authorize the release of the report.
Dziedzic remains employed by the city and continues to report to Belleman, who has been receiving leadership training, according to the city.
One of the recommendations is that Dziedzic’s desk be relocated away from Belleman to avoid fears of retaliation.
While the employees who spoke to investigators said they did not witness any sort of sexual harassment, many of the employees pointed to a strict boss.
“It is more likely than not Belleman’s management team feels spoken down to, occasionally yelled at, as though Belleman has favorites, and do not know whether Belleman finds their work satisfactory or poor. Belleman does not seem to recognize this sense of unease may be the sentiment of his leadership team,” the report concludes.
“Multiple interviewees reported that Belleman “has favorites,” “dresses people down,” and is stern or scolding—particularly toward women,” according to the report. “Although not substantiated as gender-based, this pattern could present future risk if it continues. The Investigators recommend the City counsel Belleman on the importance of professional communication and that subjective interpretations of conduct are the reality and can create culture concerns.”
Belleman was hired in August 2023 at a time when East Lansing had been roiled with turnover. In the year before Belleman arrived, at least 10 department heads or assistant department heads, including a longtime city manager, had resigned or retired. Belleman had previously been the controller of Saginaw County; he was fired from that job in June 2023, just before applying for the East Lansing job.
